Machine for repairing runs in fabric



Dec. 19, 1933. P. PFEIFFER MACHINE FOR REPAIRING RUNS IN FABRIC Original Filed Feb. 28, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Paul P 2613 2 Dec. 19, 1933. PFElFFER 1,939,918

MACHINE FOR REPAIRING RUNS IN FABRIC Original Fiied Feb. 28. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M'QW? v I Eaal fife L330 if *M a Patented Dec. 19, 1933 UNITED" STATES MACHINE FOR REPAIRING RUNS IN FABRIC 1 Paul Pfeiffer, New York, N. Y.

-Application-.February 28,1931, Serial'No. 519,172

Renewed September 13, 1933 I 1 21 Claims. (Cl. 66-15) This invention relates to a machine for repairing runs in fabric; and more particularly for repairing runs, drop stitches, and the like, in hosiery,,underwear, and similar knitted goods.

, The main object of this invention is to provide a simple and durable, and an efliciently operating fabric repairing machine, wherewith the threads of a run in the fabric will be properly spaced and advanced, and only the foremost one of said threads will be delivered to the loop forming needle and taken up thereby during each operative movement thereof.

Another object is to provide a novel and efficient thread spacing and advancing and delivering device for a fabric repairing machine, which device will properly space and advance a comparatively large number of the fabric threads which cross the run, and wherewith the foremost one of said spaced threads is carried away from the spacing means, so that .it, and it alone, will be positively delivered into the path of operation ofthe needle to be grasped thereby for the proper formation of the successive loops in said run. a

A further object is to provide in a fabric repairing machine certain novel mechanisms comprising means for uniformly spacing a considerable number of threads which cross the run in the fabric and for steadily advancing the same toward the loop forming needle, means for feeding the fabric through the machine, means for carrying the foremost spaced thread from the spacing means to the needle, and driving means to actuate said fabric feeding means and said thread carrying means to periodically advance the fabric and the thread in unison, so as to 17ssure the positive delivering of the one advanced thread at a time to the needle. 7

Various other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which the invention is shown in its preferred form, it being understood that other arrangements andforms of construction may be resorted to for carrying out the objects and purposes of this invention.

In the drawings: 7

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional .view of a fabric repairing machine provided' withan embodiment of my invention, shown in its preferred form of construction.

Fig. 2 is anenlarged plan view, taken substantially along line 22 of Fig. 1, showing the fabric supporting. means, the fabric feeding means,

and the means for spacingand advancing the threads which cross the 'run.

fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view, taken substantially online 3-3: of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view so through the essential parts of this invention, on

a larger scale than that shown in Fig. 1.

Figs. 5, -6, "I, and '8 are enlarged d tail-views, partly in section, embodying the rotary means for spacing and advancing several successive threads-0f the run, the loop forming needle, and

the reciprocating means for carrying the foremost one of theadvanced threads from the spacing means into position to be grasped by the needle, illustrating several successive steps employed in effecting a repair of a run in the fabric.

Fig. 9 is a greatly enlarged sectional detail view illustrating the preferred formation of the screw threads of the rotary spacing means for spacing and advancing the fabric threads.

In repairing runs in knitted fabric with the known machines of this kind,'the loop forming needle is quite small and the threads of the run i are very close together; and so it happens that the needle occasionally picks up two threads at a time, and at other times misses picking up any thread; it being difficult to provide a machine wherein the needle will positively grasp exactly one thread of the run at' a time during each reciprocation, so that the loops will be properly formed in perfect sequence.

It is therefore the chief purpose of this present invention to provide a construction including means whereby the fabric threads which cross the run are properly spaced and advanced, and-the foremost one of these threads is periodically and at the proper time taken and positively carried forwardly, apart from the remaining spaced threads, into the path of operation of the loop forming needle, so that it alone will be positively grasped thereby during the reciprocation of the needle, and. the loops will be properly formed inexact sequence.

The drawings illustrate an embodiment of my invention in its preferred form of construction, in combination with a fabric repairing machine which comprises a base 15 wherefrom arises a hollow frame or protecting housing 16 enclosing and supporting the essential elements of this invention and of the machine operatingv in conjunction therewith. Said housing includes a hollow standard 17 which arises from the base and has a hollow arm 18 projecting horizontally from its upper end; also an oblong casing, 19 which pro 110 ments housed therein, said cap being held in position by suitable screw means 22, or the like, to

enable ready removal of the cap; and the cap is' shaped oblong and to curve down at its sides 23, so as to properly and smoothly support the hose and fabric thereon. V

The machine which is equipped with my invention comprises a suitable loop forming needle provided with a pivoted latch 26, said needle being removably and adjustably carried by'a shaft 27, by the use of a suitable thumb screw or the like. The shaft is slidably mounted in a sleeve 28, being held in its depended position therein by means of a suitablespring 29, and being adapted to be elevated therein by the use of a cam element which is pivotally held on the shaft and bears upon the sleeve, whereby to raise said shaft and needle sufficiently in said sleeve to be free from the fabric. The needle is of well known construction. This sleeve is slidably mounted in thefront end of arm 18 and is. actuated, to reciprocate the needle, by means of a rocking lever 31 fulcrumed at 32 and pivotally connected with one end to said sleeve at 33, and with its other end to a bar 34 which is reciprocated by an eccentric 35 secured on a shaft 36 rotated by a gear 37 which meshes with a gear 38 secured on the main drive shaft 39 driven by a pulley 40 and belt 41 actuated by suitable power means (not shown). I

A hand wheel 42 is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

1 A rotation of the drive shaft 39 reciprocates bar 34, rocks lever 31, and reciprocates sleeve 28 with its shaft 27, andthereby reciprocatesthe needle 25 through a complete loop forming movement, as is readilyunderstood in this art.

This machine is also provided with a presser foot 45, preferably of resilient plate-like material, which is bent and curved over at its outer or rear. end to form a rounded outer end 46 and a lower shoe or fabric engaging portion 47 which has its inner .end 48 bent upwardly, thereby providing a smooth lower face on this presser foot for smoothly bearing upon the fabric and holding it on the. supporting cap 21. Said presser foot has a bent upper part 49 secured removably with suitable screw means ona yoke 50 carried on the lowerend of a bar 51 which is slidably mounted in said arm 18, adjacent sleeve 28; and said foot has a slot 52 extending centrally longitudinally thereof, to provide for the reciprocating movement of the needle therethrough. A spring 53 surrounds bar 51, and is confined between arm 18 and a projecting element 51' fixed on said bar, to retain said foot with a yielding pressure on said fabric. A presser roll 54is pivotally carried in said yoke, being adapted to bear on head 21 and on the fabric supported thereon, in co-operation with said foot and with the novel feeding means provided in this invention, for guiding andfeeding the fabric;

The means provided herein for raising the presser foot and the presser roll away from the 'head and the'feeding means and the fabric supported thereon, is preferably arranged so that it can be operated by the foot of'the machine operator, and it preferably includes a cable 55 attached to element 51' on bar 51 and passing over pulleys 56 mounted in housing 16, said cable extending down through the base, and is then arranged in any suitable manner to be actuated by the foot of the operator.

My novel spacing means or device, in the form illustrated herein, is arranged to support and uniformly space a comparatively large number of the fabric threads which cross the run to be repaired, and to evenly advance said threads and periodically or intermittently deliver or discharge the foremost one thereof toward the loop forming needle. This spacing means is preferably constructed in the form of a hollow shaftlike member 60, which is substantially cylindrical in shape and is rotatably mounted in a bore 61 provided in an enlarged part 62 on the inside of cap 21, said bore and member preferably extending at an inclination upwardly toward the needle. The upper or forward part of'said member, adjacent the needle, is provided with thread means 63, whichis preferably in the form of a continuous screw thread, like a helical thread, extending around'said forward part. Said means 63 slants upwardly through an opening 64 provided in .cap 21, so that the upper parts of said threads on said means are projecting above the cap, and whereby to support and space a considerable number of the fabric threads which cross the run. V

The means for rotating the spacing member comprises a gear 65 secured on the lower end of this member, said gear and member being retained in proper position by a bracket arm 66, and the gear being driven by a gear 67 secured ona shaft 68 extending-longitudinally of the casing 19, and being supported in a bearing boss 69 and in a' bracket 70, provided respectively in the outer end and in the inner part of said casing. Said shaft 68 is driven by a bevel gear 71 meshing with a bevel gear 72 secured on the main drive shaft 39.

The thread means 63 on the rotary member 60 is constructed and arranged so that thesuccessive leads of the screw thread will properly fit and will uniformly space the successive fabric threads which cross the run; and so that by a constant or uniform rotation of said member the fabric threads will be evently and gradually advanced toward the needle, and the foremost one thereof will thus be periodically or intermittently liberated or discharged at the forward end of said rotary spacing member, adjacent the needle.

I also provide means herein, to operate in conjunction with this spacing means, for receiving the discharged foremost thread of said spaced threads, as indicated by the thread a in Fig. 5, and for carrying this thread forwardly, clear from the spacing member, into the path of travel of the reciprocating needle so as to be readily grasped thereby. This means is preferably in the form of a reciprocating member which includes a stem 74 slidably mounted in said hollow rotary member 60 and provided with thread carrying elements, prefera ly in the form of a pair of spaced fingers '75 which are integral with the stem and have a notched portion '76 thereon, to carry the foremost one of the fabric threads away from the spacing member and the spaced threads thereon, into the path of travel of the needle, as

Lad

rocation of the needle, and this means preferably comprises a roller 77 journaled. in: a. jaw member 78 mounted on the lower endof stem '74.. This roller travels on. a: disk-like member 79 which is secured on and rotates with the rotary: shaft 68, and which has a cam. element 80 thereon. for periodically shifting said. roller: and-thereby sliding said stem and its notched'fingers with the foremost thread thereon into: the path of travel of the needle and in timed relation with its descent; in such a manner that said foremost thread is moved sufficiently forwards, away from the spacing member and the remaining spaced threads, to assure that the needle will pick up this one foremost thread, and it alone, during each loop forming reciprocation of the needle. The fingers 75 areproperly spaced apart and are of suflicient length to provide for the free reciprocationv of the needle therebetween.

The slidable stemfiM is provided. with an angular part or means 81' thereon, to prevent rotation of. the stem as the spacing member 60 rotates. A spring 82 on this stem urges the roller 7'] to bear closely against disk. 79'.

The means provided for feeding the fabric in this machine preferably comprises a swingable member which: includes a pair of spaced horizontally extending plates or bars 85 having slots 86 provided in their forward or inner ends to receive pivot means 8'Zmounted in the casing; and at the rear or outer ends said bars 85 are mounted on a pair of eccentric members 88 secured on a shaft 89 which extends across the casingto rotate therein. Each plate or bar has an upwardly extending part or blade 90- thereon; and a short blade 91 is preferably mounted midway therebetween, by crosswise rods or pins 92. Said plates 90 and '91 have serrations or knurled means 93 provided on their tops, to prevent slipping, of the fabric thereon, the serrated parts being adapted to be extendedupwardly through slots 94 and 95 provided in cap 21, for engaging and advancing the fabric. I

The feeding means is oscillated or swung on pivot means 87, by means of a gear 96 secured on shaft 89 andmeshing with a gear 97 secured on drive shaft 68, said gears being preferably forty-five degree gears, as. indicated in'the draws ings, The serrated parts 93 of the blades 90 and 91 are thereby periodically or intermittently swung upwardly through said slots 94 and 95, to periodically advance the fabric, in timed relation with the outward movement of the reciprocating stem 74 and the thread carrying fingers '75 thereon, whereby the foremost thread is being carried away from the spacing means and delivered into thepath of travel of the needle so as to be readily grasped thereby.

As indicated in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the stem '74 and its fingers '75 have been moved. to: the outer or forward position in member 60 and its spacing means 63 thereon, due to the operation of cam 80 against roller 7'1, and the notched means '76 on the fingers have carried the foremost thread a away from the spacing means, into the path of reciprocation of the needle, said fingers and said thread being shown at their foremost position, just after the hook portion of the needle has engaged or grasped said thread, to carry it upwardly in its ascending movement, as indicated by the adjacent arrow. As the needle ascends with said thread, toward the upper position, as indicated in Fig. 6, the stem and the fingers are promptly retracted tothe inner position, by the action of spring 82, as soon as the narrow cam 80 passes away from roller '17,

the. succeeding. fabric thread b then drops into notched" means '76. V

It should be especially observed that the sec 0nd or succeeding fabric threadwill be; released or discharged from the front endof the screw thread of the spacer means only after the hook portion of the needle has already grasped or taken up the preceding or. foremost thread, as well indicated in Fig.- 7, wherein the needle'is shown ascending, in the direction of the adjacent arrow, and is about to. grasp the succeeding thread 12, while the following or third thread c. is still positively retained between. the leads. or threads of the screw means. Fig. Sfurthermore indicates that the needle has grasped and enclosed in its hook portion the second thread b, while the first thread a in the preceding. loop is pressing the latch 26 closed, and that thereupon the third thread 0 is just about to leave or to be delivered from the screw thread of the spacer means 63 onto the carrying fingers 75; whereby it is assured that the needle. can grasp only this one thread at a time during each'of its reciprocations; and wherewith the defects of grasping. more J than one thread at a time, as. is met with in the prior fabric repairing machines, is hereby entirely eliminated. The feeding means. also advances the fabric a slight distance in unison with. the advancing of this foremost thread, at the. certain timed intervals, to assure the picking. up of exactly the one thread at a time by the needle and the perfect formation of the successive loops in the threads of the run; thus providing a highly efficient and very reliable machine.

I claim as my invention:

1. A spacer device for a machine forrepairing runs-in knitted fabric, said device comprising means having a screw thread provided on its exterior for receiving between the successive leads of-the screw thread the successive fabric threads-which cross the run, for supporting and uniformly spacing said fabricthreads.

2. A spacer device for a'machine for repairing runs in knitted fabric, .said device comprising a rounded shaft-like member having means provided around its exterior for supporting thereon and for uniformly spacing a considerable. numberof the successive fabric threads. which cross the run.

3. A spacer device for a machine for repairing runs in knitted fabric, said device comprising a cylindrical member having a helical thread provided around its exterior for receiving be.- tween the successive leads of the helical thread the successive fabric threads which cross the run to uniformly space the same, said member being rotatable on its longitudinal axis whereby to evenly advance said spaced fabric threads toward one end of said member.

a. A spacer device for a machine for repairing runs in knitted fabric, said device comprising a rounded member having means on its exterior for supporting and uniformly spacing a considerable number of the fabricthreads which cross the run, said member being rotatable whereby to advance said fabric threads and successively discharge the foremost one thereof, and means associated with said member for receiving said foremost threadas it is discharged and carrying .cessive fabric threads which cross the run thereby uniformly spacing the same, said member being rotatable whereby. to evenly advance said fabric threads and to successively discharge the foremost one thereof, and-means'supported within and movable axially of said cylindrical member for receiving said foremost thread as; it is discharged and to carry it forwardly away'from said member.

6. In a machine for repairing runs in knitted fabric and. containing a loop forming needle, rounded spacer means having a screw thread provided around its exterior for supporting between its successive leads and evenly spacing thereby the successive fabric threads which cross the run, and means for rotating said spacer means on an axis extending longitudinally of said screw thread, whereby to support and space and advance aconsiderable number of said fab,- ric threads and to discharge the foremost ,one thereof toward said needle.

7. In a machine for repairing runs in knitted fabric and containing a reciprocating loop forming needle, spacer means comprising a shaftlike member having means provided around its exterior for supporting and evenly spacing the successive fabric threads which cross the run,

means for rotating said member around its longitudinal axis whereby to'advance said fabric threads toward said needle and to successively discharge the foremost one thereof, and means for taking saidv foremost thread as discharged and advancing it in line'with said needle to facilitate being grasped thereby.

8. In a machine'for repairing runs in knitted fabric and containing a loop forming needle, a hollow shaft-like member having. screw threads provided around its exterior for supporting between its successive leads and evenly spacing thereby the successive fabric threads which cross the run, means for rotating said member whereby the screw threads advance said fabric threads toward the needle and periodically discharge the foremost fabric thread, and means including a stem reciprocating in said hollow shaft-like member and having means on its forward end for carrying said discharged foremost thread away from said member to be readily grasped by said needle.

9. In a machine for repairing runs in knitted fabric and containing a loop forming needle, a rotary spacer member having its axis of rotation directed toward said needle and having means on its exterior for evenly spacing and advancing toward the needle the successive fabric threads which cross the run, means for rotating said member to advance said spaced threads and to periodically discharge the foremost one thereof, means for carrying said discharged thread toward theneedle, means for feeding the fabric, and means for actuating said feeding means and said carrying means to advance said fabric and said discharged thread in unison and facilitate the grasping of said thread by the needle. 7

10. In a machine for repairing runs in knitted fabric and containing a loop forming needle, a rotary spacer member having a screw thread provided around its exterior for evenly spacing and advancing toward the needle the successive fabric threads which cross the run and to discharge the foremost thread toward the needle, means for receiving said discharged thread and carrying it forwardly in position for the: needle, swingable means for feeding the fabric, and means for actuating said feeding means and said carrying means to periodically advance them in unison thereby advancing said fabric and said carried thread to facilitate the grasping of said thread by the needle.

11. In a machine containing a loop forming needle for repairing runs in knitted fabric, means for spacing. the threads which cross the run and for advancing them toward the needle, means for carrying the advanced one of said spaced threads to the needle, means for supporting the fabric, and swingable feeding means including ribs which periodically move above said supporting means and engage the fabric to advance it while said thread carrying means advances its thread in position for engagement by the needle.

12. In a machine containing a loop. forming needle for repairing runs in knitted fabric, a hollow shaft-like member having means provided around its exterior for uniformly spacing the successive fabric threads which cross the run, means for rotating said member around its longitudinal axis thereby advancing said threads at a uniform speed toward the needle and periodically placing the foremost one thereof at the front end of said member, and reciprocating means including a stem slidable longitudinally in said hollow member and having spaced elements at its forward end for carrying said foremost thread from the member toward the needle, to be grasped by the needle moving in the space between said elements.

13. In a machine containing a loop forming reciprocating needle for repairing runs in knitted fabric, a hollow shaft-like member having means provided around its exterior for spacing the successive fabric threads which cross the run, means for rotating said member around its longitudinal axis thereby advancing said threads at a uniform speed. toward the needle and periodically discharging the foremost one'thereof, means including a stem slidable insaid hollow member and having spaced'elements at its forward end for carrying said discharged foremost thread from the member into the path of reciprocation of the needle which extends through the space between said elements, feeding means for periodically engaging and advancing the fabric, and means for actuating said feeding means and for reciprocating said stem and its elements to advance said fabric and said foremost thread in unison and facilitate the grasping of said thread by said needle.

14. In a machine containing a loop forming needle for repairing runs in knitted fabric, casing means including means for supporting the fabric thereon, a'shaft-like member having a screwthread provided around its exterior and being mounted in said casing means to have the threaded part partiallyextendabove said fabric supporting means for supporting between the successive leads thereof and for evenly spacing thereby the successive fabric threads which cross the run, means for rotating said member on its longitudinal axis to uniformly advance said threads toward the needle and to discharge the foremost one'thereof, and means to carry said discharged thread from said member into position to be readily grasped by said needle.

15. In a machine containing a loop forming needle for repairing runs in knitted fabric, casing means having means thereon for supporting the fabric, a cylindrical member having a screw thread provided around a part of its exterior and being mounted in said casing means so that said threaded part extends partially abovesaid supporting means and will support between the successive leads thereof and will evenly space the successive fabric threads which cross the run, means for rotating said member to uniformly advance said fabric threads and to periodically discharge the foremost one thereof, means including a stern slidable in said cylindrical member and having means on its forward end for receiving and carrying said discharged thread, and means including cam means for periodically reciprocating said stem and its thread carrying means to advance said thread from said member into position to be readily grasped by said needle.

16. In a machine containing a loop forming needle for repairing runs in knitted fabric, means for supporting the fabric thereupon, a hollow rounded member having a screw thread provided around a part thereof and'positioned to partially extend up through said supporting means for spacing successive fabric threads which cross the run, means for rotating said member to advance said threads and discharge the foremost one toward the needle, means including a stem slidable in said member and having elements at its front for carrying the discharged thread toward the needle, feeding means for periodically engaging and advancing the fabric, and actuating means including cam means for reciprocating said stem and its elements and eccentric means for swinging said feeding means to advance the fabric and said thread in unison.

'17. In a machine containing a loop forming needle for repairing runs in knitted fabric, casing means having a readily removable cap thereon for supporting the fabric and adapted to provide for ready inspection and repair of the elements housed therein, means rotatably mounted in said cap for spacing and advancing the fabric threads of the run toward the needle, and means journaled in said casing means for rotating said spacing means. i

18. In a machine containing a loop forming needle for repairing runs in knitted fabric, a casing having a readily removable cap thereon for supporting the fabric and adapted to provide for convenient inspection of the elements housed therein, a rotary spacing member mounted in the inner part of said cap and having an outer threaded portion projecting therethrough for spacing and advancing the fabric threads which cross the run, means slidable in said spacing member for carrying the foremost one of the advanced threads toward the needle to be readily grasped thereby, and means including a shaft journaled within said casing and carrying means thereon for reciprocating said slidable means and for rotating said spacing member.

19. In a machine containing a loop forming needle for repairing runs in knitted fabric, a casinghaving a readily removable cap thereon for supporting the fabric and adapted to provide for ready inspection and repair of the elements housed therein, a rotary shaft-like member mounted inwardly on said cap and having a. continuous screw thread provided on its forward portion to project through and above said cap for spacing fabric threads thereon, means for carrying the foremost thread from said member to the needle and having a stem to slide in said member, a fabric feeding means swingable through the cap to engage the fabric, and driving means including a shaft with cam means to reciprocate said stem and thread carrying means also gear means to rotate said spacing member and to oscillate said feeding means all in timed relation.

20. In a machine for repairing runs in fabrics, the combination of a looping needle and means for reciprocating the same, a shoe for supporting and distending the fabric, saidshoe being provided with a slot extending through a portion of the feeding line, and a screw feeding shaft having its convolutions extending through said slot in position to engage the cross threads of a run in the fabric distended across the shoe and dispose the same singly with the convolutions and advance and deliver the same singly to the looping needle.

21. In a machine for repairing runs in fabrics, the combination of a looping needle and means for reciprocating the same, a feeding surface provided with a slot extending toward and terminating in a close relation to the needle, a screw shaft journalled in part below said feeding sur face and having its threads extending through said slot and above the plane of the feeding surface, and means for rotating said screw shaft.

PAUL PFEIFFER. 

